By JOE BRESCIA

Published: May 27, 2012

Mary Lou Retton, the first American female gymnast to win a gold medal in the all-around, was the star of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She won five medals, including two silvers, for team and vault, and two bronzes, for uneven bars and floor exercise.

More recently, Sue Sylvester, Jane Lynch's fictional character on the Fox show ''Glee,'' made a passing reference to Retton as her worst enemy. And Retton is among the former athletes whose retro images are being featured on Wheaties boxes.

Now 44, she has four daughters, three of whom are gymnasts. Retton also travels the world as a motivational speaker to promote the benefits of proper nutrition and regular exercise.

Q.

How do you spend most of your time?

A.

Being a full-time mother and wife. That includes driving, cooking and all the other activities.

Q.

How are your daughters doing in gymnastics?

A.

My 17-year-old is training at Level 10. My 15-year-old is a competing Level 10. My 9-year-old is a Level 8. And my 11-year-old is a competitive cheerleader.

Q.

How will the American women's gymnastics team do in the London Olympics?

A.

There will be stiff competition, but we should be vying for team gold.

Q.

What are the chances of Nastia Liukin or Jordyn Wieber winning the all-around?

A.

Jordyn is the reigning world champion and has a very good shot at repeating. But I feel it will be extremely difficult for Nastia.

Q.

What countries will present the biggest challenges to the United States?

A.

Russia, China and Romania.

Q.

What do you think of reports that the Chinese team includes under-age girls?

A.

I believe they cheat about ages. I was in China four years ago and saw the gymnasts, and it is my opinion that they were not the correct age. Cheaters should be punished.

Q.

What do you think of the new, and complicated, scoring system?

A.

I hate it. It should be changed back to the perfect-10 system.

Q.

Has the sport changed much since the time you competed?

A.

Oh, yes. It's much more difficult. Equipment has changed as well. Vault table is not horse anymore, which is much safer. Bars is a completely new event. There's no more wrapping the bars with your hips.

Q.

What did you think when you heard your name on ''Glee''?

A.

It's always a surprise when you hear your name thrown out like that. That evening, I received about a hundred tweets and texts.